NOVEMBER Understanding 8A Certification for the Coharie Tribe s River Restoration Project. People Business Community NCGrowth.unc.

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1 NOVEMBER 2016 Understanding 8A Certification for the Coharie Tribe s River Restoration Project People Business Community NCGrowth.unc.edu

2 People Business Community NCGrowth, an EDA University Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel HIll, was founded in 2012 to help businesses create good jobs and to help communities create sustainable and equitable opportunities for their citizens. With a passionate staff and a dynamic pool of graduate student analysts, we partner with businesses, communities, governments, and other organizations to tackle outcome-based economic development and entrepreneurship projects. NCGrowth is funded by the Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, US Economic Development Administration, GoldenLEAF Foundation, and Z Smith Reynolds Foundation. NCGrowth@unc.edu

3 Authors Carolyn Fryberger, MCRP, joined NCGrowth as Program Coordinator in October 2015 after receiving her Master s in City and Regional Planning from UNC Chapel Hill with a focus on Economic Development. Her interest in economic development grew out of work promoting community health and wellness and seeing that time and time again good health outcomes were dependent on access to quality jobs. As a graduate student at UNC she was involved in a wide variety of projects including research on the opportunities and impacts of swine waste to energy systems in eastern North Carolina, research on entrepreneurship in the Research Triangle region, economic impact analysis with IMPLAN, and assisting local governments with downtown revitalization. Carolyn_Fryberger@kenan-flagler.unc.edu Brittney Henry is a Master of Public Administration student at North Carolina State University. She is a graduate of Fayetteville State University with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Psychology. Brittney s professional experience includes Procurement Technical Assistance Center Intern with the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) in Raleigh, Virology Laboratory Technician, and High School Chemistry and Physical Science Teacher. A native of rural, Southeastern North Carolina Brittney has a passion for economic development. Special thanks to NCGrowth Analyst Brandi Bullock for design and layout on this report and to SBA Senior Area Manager Patrick Rodriguez for his careful review and comments.

4 Winning federal contracts is about positioning an 8(a) firm as the best solution to fill a government need.

5 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION 6 7 Executive Summary Coharie River Restoration 8(a) CERTIFICATION 8 9 Business Development Program Eligibility Requirements 9 Tribal Eligibility 9 Business Eligibility 10 Application Process 16 Resources for Certified Firms NEXT STEPS Business Planning Relationship Building Record Keeping APPENDIX 15 Federal Spending Trends in North Carolina 16 Case Study: North State Environmental 17 Resources

6 Executive Summary The 8(a) Business Development Program was created by the U.S. Small Business Administration and offers a broad scope of assistance for small, disadvantaged firms to gain access to the economic mainstream of American society. The objective of the 8(a) Program is to graduate 8(a) firms that will go on to thrive in a competitive business environment. The Coharie Indian Tribe is a state-recognized American Indian tribe located in Harnett and Sampson counties in southeastern North Carolina. In recent years, the Coharie Intra-Tribal Council, Inc. (CITC) the Tribe s governing body has taken responsibility for the restoration of the Coharie River, a historic and cherished asset to the Tribal community. The CITC wishes to build on this work and the river restoration expertise within the Tribe to launch an environmental restoration business venture that could eventually obtain 8(a) certification to compete for federal and state contracts. The Tribe also sees a business opportunity for river-based tourism once the cleanup is complete. A separate business recreation and tourism venture is envisioned that would offer boat rentals and guiding services on the Coharie River. This report compiles research conducted by NCGrowth on the 8(a) Business Development Program to guide the CITC s business planning for a firm specializing in environmental restoration and cleanup. The certification process is lengthy, and the requirements and application process can be daunting; at this stage it is important for the Tribe to focus on business planning with eligibility requirements in mind and building connections with the SBA and other 8(a) certified entities. Once the business has been operating for at least two years or is able to demonstrate potential for success through other means (such as access to capital and management experience), it will be able to apply for 8(a) certification. The research compiled in this report will help guide the business planning process so that when the time comes, the business and the Tribe are fully prepared to meet the requirements of the 8(a) application. 6

7 In the near-term the Tribe should focus its attention on three primary activities detailed in the body of this report: Business Planning Build Relationships with SBA and other 8(a) firms Record Keeping This report begins with a description of the Coharie River Restoration project s economic development potential, followed by a detailed explanation of the 8(a) program s purpose and requirements, and concludes with recommendations on next steps for the Tribe. The appendix of this report includes data on federal contracting trends, competing firms, and details on further resources and contacts. Coharie River Restoration The Coharie River Restoration effort has several elements, not all of which feed into 8(a) certification. Restoration of the Coharie River This is the ongoing work of cleaning the Coharie River and clearing a navigable channel. This work is currently being done by volunteers led by the CITC and members of the Coharie Tribe. This work can be expanded through grants and broadening the volunteer base. Recreation and Tourism on the Coharie River Once a navigable channel is cleared on the Coharie River there is an opportunity for the Tribe to promote recreation and tourism on the river. The Tribe could operate boat rentals and guide services on the river using the revenue to support the CITC directly. This could be done under the current legal structure of the Tribe or as a separate for-profit or non-profit entity set up under the umbrella of the Tribe. Environmental Restoration and Cleanup Services This third element of the Coharie River Restoration is where the potential for 8(a) Certification comes in. The expertise developed within the tribe through the process of cleaning up the Coharie River is a valuable skillset that can be marketed to other communities as well as state and federal government. This initiative must be set up legally as a distinct for-profit entity with majority ownership and management control by the Coharie Tribe in order to be eligible for 8(a) certification. This element is the focus of the remainder of this report. 7

8 8(a) Certification

9 Business Development Program The 8(a) Business Development Program is an initiative of the US Small Business Administration (SBA) designed to help small, disadvantaged businesses become competitive. To participate in the 8(a) program a business must: qualify as a small business under SBA size requirements1, which vary by industry, and be owned and controlled by at least 51% of socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, or an eligible entity such as an Indian tribe The program offers a broad scope of assistance for these firms to build competitive capacity. The primary benefit of participating in the program is being eligible for sole-source and set-aside contracts with the federal government. Additionally, participants have access to training, counseling, technical assistance, SBA-guaranteed loans, bonding assistance, and surplus government property and supplies that can support their business. The 8(a) Program strives to graduate participating firms to go on to thrive in a competitive business environment. Program participation is divided into two stages: the developmental stage (which is four years) and the transitional stage (a five year process). Participants are reviewed annually for compliance with eligibility requirements. There is a $100 million limit on the total dollar value of sole-source contracts that a business can receive while in the program. The federal government annually devotes over $500 billion to procurement for goods and services, with the overall goal for small business procurement being 23% (over $75 billion). In 2011, 8(a) businesses obtained over $16.7 billion in federal contracts. Contracts that are more than $3,000 but less than $150,000 are automatically set aside for small businesses

10 The most successful businesses have the below qualities and characteristics: take full advantage of available business development opportunities learn as much as possible about federal markets develop a strong marketing campaign align themselves with partners and mentors evolve and grow their competitiveness, and ultimately benefit from contracts Program experts recommend that companies do not rush the certification process and wait to enter the program until their business is established and ready for acceleration. There are many benefits to 8(a) certification that a company can take advantage of if they are primed to do so. Many companies enter the program prematurely, 50% of companies that become certified never receive a contract. If a business is not ready to apply or lacks the capabilities to bid competitively for prime contracts, subcontracting can be beneficial. The SBA maintains a database of subcontracting opportunities. 10

11 Eligibility Requirements The following section is adapted from the Tribal Enterprise Business Guide: 8(a) Business Development Program, an online course offered through the SBA Learning Center.2 Tribal Eligibility In the case of a business owned by a tribal entity, the tribe must demonstrate to the SBA that the tribe itself is economically disadvantaged. The SBA will consider the following factors: Number of tribal members Present tribal unemployment rate Per capita income of tribal members Percentage of local Indian population below the poverty level Tribe s access to capital as demonstrated by Tribe and Firm financials Tribal assets List of wholly or partially owned tribal enterprises or affiliates Once economic disadvantage is established for one tribally-owned firm, the tribe does not have to reestablish status for additional businesses that it owns unless specifically requested. Business Eligibility Once the Coharie Tribe s eligibility is confirmed the business itself must meet additional requirements that are detailed below. These eligibility requirements should be used as guidelines during the business planning process to ensure the Tribe s firm is setup for success under the 8(a) program. Structure The business must be a legal entity organized for profit Applicant must be a separate and distinct legal entity organized by the tribe, federal or state authorities Governance documentation must express sovereign immunity language, or sue and be sued clause which designates U.S. federal courts to be among the courts of competent jurisdiction for all matters relating to SBA's programs, including, but not limited to 8(a) program participation, loans and contract performance 2 training/tribal-enterprise-business-guide-8a-business-development-program 11

12 Tribal enterprise must be organized for profit and the tribe must possess economic development powers in the tribe s governing documents Industry Federal entities use the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)3 to classify businesses. A business can have multiple NAICS codes reflecting a variety of activity, but a primary code must be identified that represents the largest segment of revenues. According to NCGrowth s analysis stream restoration activities are categorized under NAICS Code for Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction. SBA will review past contracts and taxes as part of the 8(a) certification to determine performance in the primary industry sector. Supporting documentation such as copies of contracts/invoices showing the scope of work performed should be kept on hand to justify the primary NAICS code. Good records are necessary to achieve certification; collecting and maintaining this documentation even before the application process begins will make the process much smoother.iduals Size Tribally owned applicants must qualify as a small business and certify as such to the SBA, pursuant to the provisions in 13 CFR 121. Size standards4 differ by industry and are measured either by annual receipts or employment. Stream restoration activities are generally categorized under NAICS Code for Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction. In this industry, to qualify as small a firm must have less than $36.5 million in annual receipts. In the case that a tribe has multiple businesses each one is reviewed separately to determine the small business size standard

13 Ownership For corporate entities, a tribe must unconditionally own at least 51 percent of the voting stock and at least 51 percent of the aggregate of all classes of stock For non-corporate entities, a tribe must unconditionally own at least 51 percent interest.5 Control and management Management and daily business operations of a tribally owned business must be controlled by the tribe Tribal business may be controlled by the tribe through one or more individuals who possess sufficient management experience of an extent and complexity needed to run the concern Corporate Vs. Non-Corporate Entities A corporate entity such as a limited liability corporation (LLC) is legally distinct from the individuals involved. Individual owners are not personally liable for activities of the business and that the entity exists beyond the involvement of specific people. A non-corporate entity such as a sole-proprietorship or a partnership has no legal separation between the owners and the business. Choosing a business structure has legal and tax implications and should be carefully considered as part of the business planning process. Management may be provided by non-tribal members if SBA determines that such management is required to assist the firms development Tribe must retain control of all management decisions common to boards of directors Plan must be in place to demonstrate how tribal members can grow in managerial skills Potential for success Tribal applicant may establish potential for success by demonstrating that: It has been in business for at least two years, as evidenced by income tax returns for each of the two previous tax years ; or Individual or individuals who will manage and control the daily business operations of the firm have substantial technical and management experience, the applicant has a record of successful performance on contracts from governmental or nongovernmental sources in its primary industry category, and the applicant has adequate capital to sustain its operations and carry out its business plan as an 8(a) participant; or Tribe has made a firm written commitment to support the operations of the applicant concern and it has the financial ability to do so. 5 Tribe may not own 51% or more of another firm which, either at the time of application or within the previous two years, has been operating in the 8(a) program under the same primary NAICS 13 code as the applicant

14 Contract Availability As with other 8(a) applicants, a tribally-owned applicant concern shall not be denied admission into the 8(a) program due solely to a determination that specific contract opportunities are unavailable to assist the development of the concern unless: The Government has not previously procured and is unlikely to procure the types of products or services offered by the concern; or The purchase of such products or services by the Federal Government will not be in quantities sufficient to support the developmental needs of the applicant and other program participants providing the same or similar items or services. Application Process Before a business applies to become 8(a) certified, it should answer yes to ALL of the following questions: Do all principals show good character? Is the firm organized as a for-profit business? Is the firm a small business that meets the SBA size standard? The size standard varies by NAICS code and can be viewed here.6 Has the company been conducting ongoing business for at least two years? Does the firm have "established filings" with the state, county and city where it does business (established filings mean the articles, permits, etc.) and are the fillings signed, dated, and stamped by the state that issued them? Do one or more socially disadvantaged individuals: 1. Own a majority (51% or more) of the firm? 2. Serve as the highest officer? 3. Manage the firm? 4. Control the board of directors? 5. Run the firm s daily business operations? 6. Receive the highest pay from the firm? Once these criteria are satisfied the application process may begin. The application process is divided into five major steps: Confirm eligibility compliance Make connections with SBA staff, other 8(a) certified entities and others experienced with the 8(a) program

15 Gather required documents i. Get official copies of all governing documents for the business and the tribe. Articles, licenses, permits, etc. must be current and approved by the appropriate parties. ii. Obtain a DUNS number for the business. A DUNS number is required for all businesses to register with the US Federal government for contracts or grants. Click here7 or call to register for a DUNS number. The following information is required for registration: 1. Name of organization 2. Organization address 3. Name of the chief executive officer (CEO) or organization owner 4. Legal structure of the organization (e.g., corporation, partnership, proprietorship) 5. Year the organization started 6. Primary type of business 7. Total number of employees (full and part-time) iii. Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number, it is a unique identification number used by the IRS in the administration of tax laws. Click here8 to apply for an EIN. Register in the System for Award Management (SAM)database i. The System for Award Management (SAM) is a government-maintained free database of companies wanting to do business with the government. This database is a marketing tool for businesses and a searchable list of prospective vendors for the government. SAM is required for all firms seeking to do contracting with the federal government. You may register, create, and access your SAM account on The SAM website.9 A DUNS number and TIN or EIN are required for SAM registration. Complete and Submit Application Online via the SBA General Login System (GLS) i. Information on The General Login System (GLS) can be found here10 and access to your SBA Account Login can be found here apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online

16 In addition to the standard 8(a) application documents, tribal entities are required to include the following documents: Copy of tribal governing documents Evidence of tribal recognition for special programs and services Copies of articles of incorporation and bylaws as filed with the organizing or chartering authority, or similar documents needed to establish and govern a non-corporate legal entity Documents to show tribe s economically disadvantaged status Benefits statement describing benefits the Coharie Tribe provides to its members Once a complete application is submitted the review process takes four to six months. Resources for Certified Firms Upon certification the SBA assigns a business development officer to the firm to assist the firm in making the most of the program s opportunities. This business development officer (BDO) would be based out of the SBA district office in Charlotte under the direction of Mia Fagley (contact information listed in the Resources section at the end of this report). There are many targeted resources available to help firms become competitive. The primary benefit of participating in the program is being eligible for sole-source contracts with the federal government. Additionally, participants have access to training, counseling, technical assistance, SBA-guaranteed loans, bonding assistance, and surplus government property and supplies that can support their business. Success in the program depends on the firm s willingness to work with their business development officer, take advantage of the assistance available and maintain compliance with the specific requirements set for their business. Certified firms are eligible to participate in a Mentor Protégé Program which pairs new firm with an established firm in their industry. Mentor firms can subcontract to the protégé firm and can also assist with winning contracts, management and technical assistance, access capital, finding new markets, and other capacity building. Lumbee Tribe Enterprises, LLC one of only two other tribally owned 8(a) firms in North Carolina is currently in a mentor-protégé relationship with RNB Technologies, Inc, a defense engineering and analysis company based in Stafford Virginia. The ultimate goal of the 8(a) program is that firms graduate and are able to compete in markets beyond federal contracting. Tribal 8(a) certification however is thought of by experts as the super 8(a) and can be made to extend beyond the nine-year program term. 16

17 Next Steps 8(a) Certification should be a long-term goal of the Coharie Tribe. Before entering into the application process the Tribe needs to establish a for-profit business that meets the eligibility requirements of the program. This entity then needs to be in business for at least two years to demonstrate potential for success in the 8(a) program (there is a waiver to this requirement if the firm has generated revenue and can demonstrate substantial management experience, technical expertise and adequate capital). As a point of reference, a successful 8(a) participant receives four million to six million dollars worth of contracts every year, and half a million to two million of capital is required to sustain this level of contracting. In the near term there are three areas where the Tribe can focus its efforts to move toward 8(a) certification: business planning, building relationships and record keeping. Business Planning The Tribe has two primary business planning options: Create and pursue a business plan for a for-profit business owned and operated primarily (51%) by the Tribe. Create an acquisition plan by identifying an established business that the Tribe could purchase a majority stake in through an arm s length transaction. Whichever path the Tribe chooses, the business needs to be structured to show strength in management experience, familiarity with its industry, access to capital, and ownership of equipment and assets in order to demonstrate potential for success under the 8(a) program. Throughout the business planning process the tribe should use the 8(a) eligibility requirements detailed in this report as a guide to setup the firm for success. Once a business plan is developed it should be updated annually, which will be required of the firm once 8(a) certification is achieved. 17

18 Winning federal contracts is about positioning an 8(a) firm as the best solution to fill a government need. Federal contracting officers are responsible for ensuring that government agencies purchase supplies and services from responsible sources at fair and reasonable prices. Any company that wishes to do business with the government is responsible for developing a contract pricing strategy that is reasonable and competitive, but profitable. A business must have knowledge of historical and current pricing trends, be meticulous in its pricing analysis, competitive, and able to make a profit if it wants to succeed in the federal contract space. Setting up a holding company under the control of the tribe would allow the tribe to have multiple affiliated 8(a) firms. Once tribal eligibility for 8(a) is established, it covers subsequent firms making the application process for additional 8(a) firms more streamlined. Note that a single tribe cannot have multiple firms with the same NAICS code so each additional firm would need to be in a new industry. While a given firm can only participate in the 8(a) program for 9 years, the structure of the holding company would allow the Tribe to continually grow or acquire new firms that could participate in the program. Finally, it is important to keep in mind that an 8(a) firm does not have to exclusively contract with the federal government and should still work to build a broad customer base. In North Carolina, the Department of Environmental Quality also bids for stream restoration work through its Division of Mitigation Services (DMS).12 The state has awarded approximately 780 mitigation contracts valued at $396 million since 2002, average of 52 contracts per year and $507,692 per contract. There is a pre-qualification process for contractors interested in doing business with the state. Although this is beyond the scope of this current report, it should be considered in more detail as part of the business planning process. Relationship Building The Coharie tribe should also focus on building relationships with the SBA, established 8(a) certified firms and others knowledgeable about government contracts and 8(a) certification. These connections will save time and effort during the application process by ensuring that the Tribe has the correct documents. Building connections with other businesses will open up opportunities for subcontracting, making joint bids for large contracts, and mentor-protégé relationships that will help build competitive capacity of the Tribe s business both before and after certification

19 Even before achieving certification the Tribe s business can subcontract with other firms 8(a) certified or not. Subcontracting will help build the capacity of the new firm and demonstrate its industry expertise and ability to fulfill contracts. Invoices and contracts developed for subcontracting can be used to as part of the 8(a) application to demonstrate potential for success in the program. The appendix of this report has further details and contact information for existing 8(A) certified firms in North Carolina. Bringing in other members of the Tribe to learn about 8(a) certification would be helpful to expand the thinking on how this could be used as a business development tool for the Tribe. The Tribe should continue to search for someone that could serve as a champion for this effort and provide management and operations expertise to the new business. Once the Tribe s business is established it can continue to grow its expertise and act as an economic development tool of the Tribe by subcontracting to other firms owned by tribal members. Terry Stroud Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) Officer Fayetteville State University Small Business Technology & Development Center (SBTDC) (910) tstroud@sbtdc.org Mr. Stroud and the SBTDC team counsel business owners at all stages of business growth through preparing for and applying to SBA programs including 8(a) certification. NCGrowth has discussed the Coharie project with Mr. Stroud and recommend him as a next point of contact for the Tribe. Record Keeping The Tribe should maintain good records for the business and the Tribe to expedite the process of gathering documents when the time comes to start the 8(a) application process. All documents must be current and approved by the appropriate parties. Important documents include: Tribal governance documents Articles of incorporation for the business Business filings with state, county or city where the firm does business Annual financial statements Annual tax returns Any applicable licenses and permits Copies of contracts, invoices and other documents showing the scope of work performed 19

20 Documentation of work performed on the Coharie River Documentation of assets equipment and capital Documentation of management and industry expertise of individuals involved in the business Business plan, updated annually The work that the Tribe has already done on the Coharie River can be used as a demonstration of industry and project management expertise, even though this work was unpaid. Gathering documents, photos and testimonies related to this work will boost the application and may help make the case for a waiver to allow the business into the 8(a) program before the SBA s two-year requirement. 20

21 Appendix

22 Federal Spending Trends in North Carolina The following data retrieved from gives a sense of the current level of federal spending with 8(a) firms in North Carolina. 8(a) Contract Awards in NC, FY (a) Awards for Contract Work in North Carolina Fiscal Year 8(a) Awards to Firms Located in North Carolina Amount Transactions Amount Transactions 2011 $521,033,720 2,731 $332,474,368 2, $453,965,229 2,641 $281,665,676 2, $301,818,667 2,342 $230,443,812 2, $341,317,156 2,275 $267,044,581 2, $302,997,159 2,196 $221,510,033 2,263 There are two ways to look at North Carolina s participation in the 8(a) program: contract awards for work performed in the state, or contracts awarded to firms based in the state for work performed in and out of state. The most successful 8(a) firms are able to win contracts for work both in and out of the state of North Carolina. 8(a) Contract Awards to Tribally Owned Firms in NC, FY Fiscal Year Amount Transactions 2011 $ $ $418, $4,660, $3,007,044 11

23 Prior to FY2013 there were no Tribally Owned 8(a) firms in North Carolina that were awarded federal contracts. It remains a small group with 11 contracts awarded in FY (a) Contract Awards to Tribally Owned Firms in NC by Firm, FY Firm Name Lumbee Tribe Enterprises, LLC Tatitlek Construction Services, INC Location Pembroke, NC Jacksonville, NC Total Contracts Awarded (FY ) Unknown $8,086,478 Number of Contracts (FY ) 3 11 Primary Buyer (Agency) Dept of Defense Dept of Defense Annual Revenue FY2015 $463,596 $11,452,861 Website There are currently two tribally owned 8(a) firms in North Carolina that have been awarded federal contracts in recent years, Lumbee Tribe Enterprises LLC and Tatitlek Construction Services INC. NCGrowth recommends building relationships with these firms to learn from their experience and explore subcontracting possibilities - see resources section for contact information. Both of these firms primarily target Department of Defense contracts. Lumbee Tribe Enterprises LLC was founded in 2011 and achieved 8(a) certification in They began working with Procurement Technical Assistance Officer Terry Stroud in 2009 and continue that relationship in order to make the most out of their participation in the 8(a) program.13 Tatitlek Construction Services INC is a subsidiary of The Tatitlek Corporation, an Alaska Native Corporation with 11 subsidiaries all over the US

24 8(a) Contract Awards to Native American Owned Firms in NC, FY Fiscal Year Amount Transactions 2012 $82,184, $56,568, $57,735, $48,718, Native American Owned firms are distinct from Tribally Owned firms and have a higher level of performance in federal contracting in North Carolina that Tribally Owned firms. Contract Awards to Firms in the NAICs Code Nationally, FY Fiscal Year Total Amount Total Transactions 8(a) Amount 8(a) Transactions 2012 $4.7B 14,024 $705.1M 3, $4.7B 11,398 $475.7M 2, $5.0B 10,430 $525.6M 2, $3.9B 8,322 $394.8 M 1,734 Nationally the average contract size in the Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction Industry ranged from $335,140 to $468,637 between FY2012 and FY2015. There is a trend over this time period of an increasing average contract size, with the number of contracts dropping nearly in half from 14,024 in FY2012 to 8,322 transactions in FY (a) firms were awarded about 20% of the contracts for this time period; the average size of an 8(a) contract is significantly lower than the industry average, ranging from $211,516 to $254,

25 Case Study: North State Environmental North State Environmental is a firm based in Winston Salem competing in the NAICS Code. North State Environmental specializes in: Stream Restoration Erosion Control Stormwater Management Wetlands Mitigation Bio-Engineering Reforestation Landscaping Eco-Clearing Dam Removal They have won multiple federal contracts through the Department of Agriculture for stream restoration work in the past five years. For the period from fiscal year 2009 to 2016 they received a low of $18,911 (2012) to a high of $579,831 (2010) in total annual federal contracts. The average size of an individual contract received ranges from $6,565 to $72,479. Figure 2. North State Environmental Federal Contract Awards, FY Data retrieved from usaspending.gov In addition to federal contracting North State Environmental partners with consulting firms, private mitigation firms, and private builders to provide specialized channel design and installation services. They also partner with the Ecological Enhancement Program and Department of Transportation in a variety of states to protect and restore streams and wetlands affected by transportation and economic development projects. Website: 25

26 Resources All of the resources provided here have been contacted, in communication with NCGrowth, and are aware of the Coharie Tribe s desire to pursue 8(a) certification. They are available to assist the Tribe in any necessary capacity. North Carolina s Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) SBTDCs are the business and technology extension service of The University of North Carolina. They work with SBA to provide one-on-one consulting around SBA programs including 8(a). Within SBTDC, the North Carolina Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) educates business associates on how to obtain contracts by providing comprehensive assistance in selling products and services to local, state and federal government agencies. The PTAC has been assisting North Carolina businesses for over 30 years. NCGrowth has contacted Terry Stroud, PTAC officer at Fayetteville State University, and made him aware of the Coharie Tribe s efforts to become 8(a) certified. Terry assisted with the Lumbee Tribe s 8(a) certification achieved in 2014, 3 years after the business was initially established. NCGrowth recommends him as the Tribe s next point of contact. Terry Stroud NC PTAC Counselor Fayetteville & Pembroke (910) tstroud@sbtdc.org tstroud2@uncfsu.edu 200 Murchison Road Fayetteville, NC (910) The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) The SBA was created as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist, and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise, and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. The SBA helps Americans start, build, and grow businesses. 26

27 Before initiating the 8(a) application process the first point of contact must be your local SBA District Office Business Opportunity Specialist (BOS). There is one SBA North Carolina District and three satellite offices that are responsible for the delivery of SBA programs in the state. The SBA North Carolina District office is located in Charlotte, and the satellite offices are located in Candler, Raleigh, and Wilmington, NC. The Coharie Tribe is closest to the Raleigh site, NCGrowth has made initial contact with Patrick Rodriguez in this office; they are aware of the Tribe s desire to become 8(a) certified. Patrick Rodriguez SBA Senior Area Manager Wake Tech Community College Northern Wake Campus 6600 Louisburg Road Bldg. D, Rm. 357 Raleigh, NC Mia Fagley Lead Business Opportunity Specialist 8(a) Business Development Division US Small Business Administration, North Carolina District Mia.Fagley@sba.gov 6302 Fairview Road #300 Charlotte, NC (A) Certified Firms in North Carolina Lumbee Tribe Enterprises, LLC 707 Union Chapel Road Bldg, 2 Ste. A-1 Pembroke, NC Phone: contact_us@ltellc.com Website: Year Established: 2011 Principal NAICS: Engineering Services Tatitlek Construction Services, Inc. Contact Person: Martin Hanofee 205 W Bayshore Blvd Jacksonville, NC Phone: x8685 Fax: Website: Year Established: 1999 Principal NAICS: Commercial and Institutional Building Construction 27

28 8A Certification Regulations and Training 28 Full Text of Regulations Governing 8(a) Business Development a4b6&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/title13/13cfr124_main_02.tpl Tribal Enterprise Business Guide: 8(a) Business Development Program ness-guide-8a-business-development-program SBA Learning Center 8(a) Business Development Program Training Series This is a four-part course that explains the 8(a) program generally, requirements of the program, the federal contract market, suggestions on how to win federal contracts, and financial management. This video series is one of the primary sources for this report. The duration of the course is approximately two and a half hours and can be viewed here: elopment-program-training-series 1. The first video provides an explanation of the 8(a) program. The goal of the program is to assist small disadvantaged businesses in the competitive marketplace and in gaining access to federal and private procurement markets. The 8(a) program provides these businesses with mentoring, procurement assistance, business counseling, training, financial assistance, surety bonding, and other business development support. The overall goal of the program is to graduate 8(a) businesses that will go on to thrive in a competitive business environment. The federal government annually devotes over $500 billion to procurement for goods and services. The overall goal for small business procurement is 23% (over $75 billion). 2. The second video describes how the federal government buys goods and services. The most successful businesses take full advantage of available business development opportunities, learn as much as possible about federal markets, develop a strong marketing campaign, align themselves with partners and mentors, evolve and grow their competitiveness, and ultimately benefit from contracts. In 2011, 8(a) businesses obtained over $16.7 billion in federal contracts. Contracts that are more than $3,000 but less than $150,000 are automatically set aside for small businesses. If a small business is not ready or lacks the capabilities to bid competitively for prime contracts, subcontracting is the most beneficial. The SBA maintains a database of subcontracting opportunities.

29 3. 4. If a small business is not ready or lacks the capabilities to bid competitively for prime contracts, subcontracting is the most beneficial. The SBA maintains a database of subcontracting opportunities. The third video explains how to win contracts. Winning is about positioning an 8(a) firm as the best solution to filling a government need. Federal contracting officers are responsible for ensuring that government agencies purchase supplies and services from responsible sources at fair and reasonable prices. Any company that wishes to do business with the government is responsible for developing a contract pricing strategy that is reasonable and competitive but profitable. A business must have knowledge of historical and current pricing trends, be meticulous in its pricing analysis, competitive, and able to make a profit if it wants to succeed in the federal contract space. The fourth video explains planning, financial management, operational management, compliance requirements, and targeted resources that support 8(a) program participants. Participants in the 8(a) program are required to maintain a current business plan and are urged to use it as a guide. The business plan is to be updated annually as the business grows. The principal in management for any business is to find market needs that can be satisfied, while making a profit. Individual compliance and reporting requirements unique to the 8(a) program are the only aspects that set 8(a) businesses apart from any other business. Compliance requirements for the 8(a) program are specific and unique for each participating business. The SBA encourages participants to build relationships with others who have federal contracting knowledge and/or 8(a) experience. Knowledgeable people can help guide through the challenging aspects of participating in the 8(a) business development program. 29

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